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A question on the Rock Chucker

wheelgun28

wheelgun28

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A buddy and I bought a ton of used reloading equipment from a local guy. One of the items I wound up with is a Rock Chucker press. This is my first single stage press and I thought a RC is an RC same as it always was and will be, however I see that they have variations. I see to today they sell the Supreme. I see older ones as A2 and others as well. Mine has RCBS on one side and RCII on the other. Is this an A2 press or just a RC 2? Whats really the difference? I also see that the Supreme isnt well liked as it drops primers?

Thanks!
 
I'm no expert on RCBS presses, although I do know you can never have too many of them.

The variations are pretty much like the dash numbers on S&W revolvers with each modification given a different designation.

The A2 and Rock Chuckers are two different presses, the A2 was phased out of production a long time ago. I've never seen one so I can't comment on it.

The Supreme is just another variation on the old RC design. I believe they started at RC 4 (IV), and the major change was that the frame was lengthened to give newer magnum length cartridges enough room. I haven't seen one of these yet either so I can't be of much help here either on the primer issue.
 
I picked up a RC II last summer that was NIB. From what I see is the RC original RockChucker then the RCII RockChucker II, and they now have the RockChucker Supreme. The biggest different I see is between the original RockChucker's and the Supreme. The Supreme has two places to mount the handle for either the right or left side of the press, and it also has a different style primer catcher tray (not that it looks like an improvement.)
 
You indeed have a Rock Chucker 2 Press. The A2 is a much heavier version and no longer made. The photo shows a 2A (actually one of the very first cast steel A2's where they screwed up the order of the letters) next to a RC 2. I find the RC2 to be a really nice press, with my only gripe being the occasional spent primer jumping the catcher.
a2rcII.jpg
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That A2 has the same handle as my 1972 RC. The RCII I have has a ball on the handle instead of a bicycle grip. Any of the RCs are pretty well indestructible, but they do have a bad habit of spitting spent primers all over the place. :(
 
Here is a suggestion for improving the RC primer catcher, still haven't set it up on my RCII, but the concept seems sound. The primer slot in the ram is filled with a 3/8" OD brass sleeve, which is 1 7/8" long. This is supposed to help reduce any deflection of the primer off the ram, and onto the floor.

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I have the RCII as well.

I think one of the differences between it and the new model (Supreme?) is that the RCII has the press mounted priming system with "pick-up tubes" that let you prime on the down stroke.

Some don't like that system, but it works for me. Not quite as much "feel" for the primer seating in the pocket as with a hand primer though.
 
I haven't primed with my RCII, but have used a Lee Hand Prime, and it was really tough on my hands with my rheumatoid arthritis. So I just got a RCBS Automatic Bench Primer. Purchased it as a "select second" direct from RCBS, which was cheaper than I could find anywhere else, and looks like nothing is wrong with it. It makes priming much easier on my hands, and is much quicker than a hand primer or single stage press priming.
 
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